On Wednesday
San Francisco 49ers head coach
Jim Harbaugh announced that he would stick with
Colin Kaepernick as his starting QB over
Alex Smith. Many have questioned this decision, citing the fact that Smith took the 49ers to the NFC championship game last season, and bringing up the old adage that says players shouldn't lose their starting jobs because of injury (Smith missed a couple of games because of a concussion, which allowed Kaepernick to start for the first time this season).
To those questioning Harbaugh's decision for those reasons, I say that's hogwash and I wholeheartedly agree with the move Harbaugh is making. Yes, Smith was able to help guide the Niners to the NFC championship game last season, but he played awful in that championship game and was a big reason why San Francisco lost to the
New York Giants. He completed fewer than 50% of his passes against the Giants last January, throwing for fewer than 200 yards in the 20-17 overtime loss. I remember watching that game last year and thinking to myself that the Niners had no shot in OT because of who was at the quarterback position.
Fast forward to last month at Candlestick when the Niners squared off with the Giants again, and again Smith had no answer for the Giants D, throwing three INTs and no TDs. San Francisco's defense is great, and with an average at best QB in Smith they've been able to win a lot of games over the past couple of seasons, but Harbaugh knows it's likely that the Niners will again have to face New York in the playoffs, and when they do he has more faith in Kaepernick against the Giants D than Smith, as do I.
Is it risky changing QBs mid-season just to set up a better potential matchup come the post-season, assuming both teams get there? Of course it is. But, they don't give trophies for just getting to the NFC championship game, you have to win it. And Colin Kaepernick gives San Francisco its best shot at beating the Giants.
